Category: BASF

10 Years After The Marikana Massacre: Still No Justice

On August 16, the murdered South African miners will be remembered worldwide. Platinum importer BASF bears responsibility for human rights and environmental protection

Marikana Massacre (from left above): South African police with shot miner at Nkaneng Hill; a surviving miner, Mzoxolo Magidwana, speaks at the BASF AGM 2017; protest outside the Lonmin AGM 2018 in London; protesting South African women in Marikana.

On 16 August 2012, 34 miners were shot dead at the Marikana platinum mine in South Africa. Plough Back the Fruits (PBTF), the South African-European campaign, reminds on the 10th anniversary of the massacre that miners are still imprisoned and many survivors are still waiting for the promised compensation and an official apology from those responsible. Weiterlesen

Permanent link to this article: https://www.kritischeaktionaere.de/en/campaign-plough-back-the-fruits/10-years-after-the-marikana-massacre-still-no-justice/

Deals with Gazprom, dependence on fossil gas, deficits in climate protection and double standards regarding pesticides: Our countermotions

Re agenda item 3: Adoption of a resolution giving formal approval to the actions of the members of the Supervisory Board

The Association of Ethical Shareholders Germany proposes that the actions of the members of the Supervisory Board for the 2021 financial year not be approved.

Rationale:

The Supervisory Board is still unable to credibly fulfil its role as the controlling body of the Board of Executive Directors in order to supervise BASF’s realignment independently, critically and constructively.

Shareholders’ dissatisfaction with the Supervisory Board remains high: At the 2021 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting, almost 20 percent refused to approve the actions of the Supervisory Board under the new leadership of Dr. Weiterlesen

Permanent link to this article: https://www.kritischeaktionaere.de/en/basf-se/deals-with-gazprom-dependence-on-fossil-gas-deficits-in-climate-protection-and-double-standards-regarding-pesticides-our-countermotions/

Would it have made a difference? Marikana, BASF and the Supply Chain Act

From 2023, legislation will rule how BASF must meet its own human rights due diligence obligations. Would the Supply Chain Act have helped BASF respond more seriously to the apparent abuses at its then largest platinum supplier, Lonmin, after the Marikana massacre nine years ago? The answer to this question exposes the advantages, but also the shortcomings, of the bill currently being debated in German parliament.

By Tilman Massa, Ethical Shareholders Germany

German companies have had long enough to prove that they voluntarily comply with UN standards on respecting human rights in their supply chains. After it finally became clear last year that over 80 percent were not even close to doing so, the German government drew the consequences and cleared the way for a legal regulation. Weiterlesen

Permanent link to this article: https://www.kritischeaktionaere.de/en/basf-se/would-it-have-made-a-difference-marikana-basf-and-the-supply-chain-act/

Missed climate targets, untrustworthy control: Our countermotions

Re agenda item 2: Adoption of a resolution on the appropriation of profit

The Association of Ethical Shareholders Germany proposes that the appropriation of profit proposed by the management be rejected.

Rationale:

It doesn’t add up: BASF is repeating last year’s record dividend, while further job cuts are planned worldwide, even at its headquarters in Ludwigshafen. Significantly more of the unappropriated profit should be used for a future-oriented and at the same time socially just realignment of BASF without job cuts. While employees and entire companies have to bear the burden of the Corona pandemic, BASF is even privatizing the resulting profits. Weiterlesen

Permanent link to this article: https://www.kritischeaktionaere.de/en/basf-se/missed-climate-targets-untrustworthy-control-our-countermotions/

“BASF must take action to address NorNickel’s violations”: Open response letter to BASF

Representatives of Indigenous Peoples, environmental and human rights organizations criticize BASF for not taking action to address NorNickel’s impacts to Indigenous Peoples of Russia’s Far North

Dear Dr. Dohrn:

Thank you for your response of December 4, 2020. We appreciate that you recognize NorNickel’s history and legacy of severe environmental incidents. Unfortunately, based on the evidence that we have seen, we do not yet share your optimism that NorNickel is willing to work towards sustainability. We believe BASF’s failure to take action to address NorNickel’s impacts to Indigenous Peoples of Russia’s Far North represents violations of BASF’s Group Position on Human Rights and its Supplier Code of Conduct. Weiterlesen

Permanent link to this article: https://www.kritischeaktionaere.de/en/basf-se/basf-must-take-action-to-address-nornickels-violations-open-response-letter-to-basf/

“Nornickel should not be considered a viable partner”: Open Letter to BASF

Representatives of Indigenous Peoples, environmental and human rights organizations ask BASF not to associate in any way with nickel producer Nornickel

Dr. Wettberg and Dr. Baier:

We understand that BASF SE has long-standing business relationships with Nornickel. We also understand that BASF has publicly stated its strong commitment to fostering a responsible and sustainable battery materials supply chain. In this regard, we, the undersigned representatives of Indigenous Peoples, environmental and human rights organizations ask BASF SE not to associate in any way with nickel producer Nornickel, a company with an extensive and ongoing record of human rights violations and environmental devastation. Weiterlesen

Permanent link to this article: https://www.kritischeaktionaere.de/en/basf-se/nornickel-should-not-be-considered-a-viable-partner-open-letter-to-basf/

76 NGOs call on the EU to prohibit the export of banned pesticides and the import of food produced with these chemicals

Open letter signed by 76 Civil Society Organisations sent to European Commission Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans and Commissioners of Health, Environment and Agriculture

Dear First Executive Vice President,
Dear Commissioners,

We, the undersigned civil society organisations, are writing to ask you to prohibit not only the export of hazardous pesticides that are banned in the EU, but also the import of food and agricultural goods produced with such pesticides outside the EU.

Export of banned pesticides

In July this year, 36 United Nations human rights experts issued a statement calling on the EU and other wealthy nations to end the “deplorable” practice of exporting banned toxic chemicals, including pesticides, to poorer countries with weaker regulations. Weiterlesen

Permanent link to this article: https://www.kritischeaktionaere.de/en/basf-se/76-ngos-call-on-the-eu-to-prohibit-the-export-of-banned-pesticides-and-the-import-of-food-produced-with-these-chemicals/

For corporations like BASF, a supply chain law is needed

Protests on the occasion the Annual General Meeting on 18 June

“Transparency and human rights in the BASF supply chain – Now!”
Protest in Ludwigshafen, Germany in the run-up to the BASF AGM 2020

Ludwigshafen, Heidelberg, Cologne, Hamburg, Johannesburg, Berlin – This year’s virtual Annual Meeting of BASF on June 18 will be accompanied by protests outside the company’s headquarters in Ludwigshafen and online. The international network Plough Back the Fruits is calling for a binding supply chain law that will finally get companies like BASF to address human rights violations in their global supply chains. In view of the Corona pandemic, the network is asking BASF to forego the payment of a dividend. Weiterlesen

Permanent link to this article: https://www.kritischeaktionaere.de/en/basf-se/for-corporations-like-basf-a-supply-chain-law-is-needed/